Safety piepan lifter



Nov. 5, 1946.

H. HENR ICHON SAFETY P IEPAN LIFTER Filed April 24, 1945 INVENTOR, 'HoMER HENRICHON Patented Nov. 5, 1946 UNITED STATES ET OFFICE v SAFETY PIEPAN LIFTER Homer Henrichon, New York, N. Y.

Application April 24, 1945, Serial No. 590,066

(or. 294 s) 4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in pie pan lifters, and has more particular reference to a safety pie pan lifter.

More particularly, the invention proposes a new and improved pie pan lifter which is characterized by a rod having a handle at one end, and at its other end supporting a stationary U-shaped frame attached at the ends of its arms to said rod. A movable U-shaped frame is pivotally associated with the ends of the arms of said stationary frame by which it is possible to separate the frames in jaw-like fashion to engage the opposite sides of the flange of a pie pan.

The invention contemplates a modified form in which means is associated with the moveable frame by which it may be locked in various pivoted positions in relation to the stationary frame.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a device as mentioned, which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a safety pie pan lifter constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the pie pan lifter illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of a safety pie pan lifter constructed according to a modified form of this invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed view of a portion of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

The safety pie pan lifter, in accordance with that form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1-3, includes a rod l 0 having a handle portion I l at one end supporting a stationary U-shaped frame l2. This U-shaped frame I2 is fixedly attached by the ends of its arms to the rod In. A moveable U-shaped frame I4 is pivotally mounted by the ends of its arms to the ends of the arms of said stationary frame l2.

The stationary frame I2 is formed from a strand of wire. The side arms of the frame I2 have small coiled portions l5 located immediately adjacent the rod l6 and forming bearings through which the end portions iii of the moveable frame Hi are hooked. The moveable frame M is also made from a strand of wire. The ends of the arms of the stationary frame l2 are driven into the side of the rod [6 for fixedly connecting the stationary frame with the rod H].

The pie pan lifter is used, as follows:

It is held by the handle H. The moveable U-shaped frame M is slipped over one side of a pie pan P. Then the rod In is turned and the stationary frame l2 is guided so that it slips over the other side of the pan P, and now the handle ll may be lifted to lift the pie pan P.

In Figs. 4-6 a modified form of the invention has been disclosed which is very similar to the prior form, distinguishing by the fact that the inner end of the moveable U-shaped frame M- is bent so as to extend through the adjacent loop l5 and so as to continue into a stem portion which supports a clutch disc 20. A rod 2| is slidably mounted along the bottom side of the rod ID. This rod 2| has a square section 22 which engages through a complementary square socket portion 23 of a support bracket 24 attached to the rod ID.

A spring 25 is coaxially mounted upon the square portion 22 and acts between the bracket 24 and a clutch disc 26 mounted upon the end of the square portion 22. This clutch disc 26 is complementary to and opposed to the clutch disc 20. The spring 25 urges the clutch disc 26 against the clutch disc 20 so as to hold the latter disc from turning. The rod 2| is supported by another bracket 21 near the handle portion ll of the rod in. At this latter end, the rod 20 is formed into a ring portion 28 adapted to receive ones finger.

In other respects this form of the invention is identical to the previous form and like parts are identified by like reference numerals.

The operation of this form of the invention is very similar to the prior form, except for the fact that while the handle II is being held, one finger may be engaged into the ring 28, and the rod 2i may be moved so that the clutch disc 26 releases the clutch disc 20. Now the moveable frame I4 is free and may be pivoted open, and may be engaged across one side of a pie pan. The stationary U-shaped frame I2 is then engaged over the other side of the pie pan.

The rod 2! is now released so that the spring 25 forces the clutch disc 26 against the clutch 3 disc 20, looking the U-shaped frames I2 and M in fixed positions relative to each other. It is now safe to lift the pie pan without any danger of the frames l2 and I4 opening and dropping the pie pan.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming with the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

l. A safety pie pan lifter, comprising a rod having a handle at one end, a stationary U- shaped frame fixedly attached by the ends of its arms to the other end of said rod, a movable U- shaped frame pivotally mounted by the ends of its arms to the ends of the arms of said stationary frame, and means for locking said movable frame in various pivoted positions in relation to said stationary frame, including a rod slidably and non-rotatively mounted along said first named rod, opposed clutch discs on said rod and on one of the ends of said movable U-shaped frame, and resilient means urging said clutch discs together;

2, A safety pie pan lifter, comprising a rod having a handle at one end, a stationary U- shaped frame fixedly attached by the ends of its arms to the other end of said rod, a movable slidably and non-rotatively mounted along said first named rod, opposed clutch discs on said rod and on one of the ends of said movable U-shaped frame, and resilient means urging said clutch discs together, said second named rod being provided with a ring portion at one end by which it may be moved.

3. A safety pie pan lifter, comprising a rod having a handle at one end, a stationary U-shaped frame fixedly attached by the ends of its arms to the other end of said rod, a movable U-shaped frame pivotally mounted by the ends of its arms to the ends of the arms of said stationary frame, and means for locking said movable frame in various pivoted positions in relation to said stationary frame, including a rod slidably and nonrotatively mounted along said first named rod, opposed clutch discs on said rod and on one of the ends of said moveable U-shaped frame, and resilient means urgin said clutch discs together, said resilient means comprising 9, spring,

A safety pie pan lifter, comprising a rod having a handle at one end, a stationary U-shaped frame fixedly attached by the ends of its arms to the other end of said rod, a movable U-shaped frame pivotally mounted by the ends of its arms to the ends of the arms of said stationary frame, and means for locking said movable frame in various pivoted positions in relation to said stationary frame, including a rod slidably and nonrotatively mounted along said first named rod, opposed clutch discs on said rod and on one of the ends of said movable U-shaped frame, and resilient means urging said clutch discs together, said second named rod having a square portion engaging a square socket on'a support bracket.

HOMER HENRICHON. 

